Tag: blogger

Miguel’s Friday Thoughts: Tina Turner, Melo Retiring

By Miguel Mike Medina

Tina Turner has passed away at the age of 83. She’s known as the “Queen of Rock and Roll.” I was never a big fan of her. I do think it’s a blessing she got to live a long life. I’ll mostly remember Tina for her song “What’s love got to Do with It,” a legendary and classic song. I remember when Fat Joe made his version featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule for the Juwanna Mann movie soundtrack. Tina Turner also had domestic issues with her ex Ike Turner. They were a musical duo from 1960 to 1976. She divorced Ike Turner in 1978. Turner has sold over 100 million records worldwide and won 12 Grammy Awards. 

The remake of the 1992 White Men Can’t Jump was a failure. I’m glad I didn’t see this, and I’m not planning to. Hollywood and their obsession with doing remakes and reboots is cringeworthy and a waste of money. The series is on Hulu, and there’s no point in why these creators wanted to make this series. Leave the classics and originals alone. 

Gary Sanchez has been designated for assignment. Sánchez, in his first season with the Mets, has one RBI and zero home runs through just three games played. I think Sanchez will find another home to play, but he still needs to improve his game. The Mets are better off with Francisco Alvarez as the starting catcher. He’s the future at that position for this franchise. 

Carmelo Anthony recently announced his retirement from the NBA. Melo is one of the greatest scorers of his generation. He’s a 10-time All-Star and a three-time gold medalist.

He’s a lock to go to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Anthony had opportunities to be part of a title-contending team, but he dropped the ball. For example, he could’ve joined Wade and Lebron in Miami, but he wanted to get his money. He didn’t take a pay cut. Also, his isolation Game didn’t help him win championships. Melo is known for playing one on one. That’s his game. I’m not really into that kind of style of play. He played for some good teams like the 2009 Denver Nuggets and 2013 New York Knicks, but for the most part, anywhere he went, winning didn’t follow him. 

Saturday Hockey News with Miguel

By Miguel Mike Medina

If you follow “Hockey Playoff Edition” on The MMM Journal, you will notice that I made another prediction that came true—back-to-back games with accurate final score predictions. First, the Florida Panthers won 3-2 in a four-overtime game over the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, the Golden Knights won 4-3 in overtime against the Dallas Stars. 

Chrck out this tweet by Jim Biringer, who is my contributor guest and partner for Hockey Playoff Edition.

It’s unbelievable how I got the final score correct for two consecutive playoff games. Both games were terrific start to the conference finals. I hope the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights series go to seven games because these are two outstanding teams. It’s a rematch from the 2020 bubble. 

Brett Howden was the Game 1 hero for the Golden Knights as he scored the game-winning goal in overtime. William Karlsson scored two goals for the Golden Knights. Adin Hill made 33 saves. 

As for the Dallas Stars, Roope Hintz had a goal and two assists. Hintz has a terrific postseason to remember. He now has 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists). Joe Pavelski added two assists. Jason Robertson got things started with Dallas when he scored the first goal of the game. He finished with a goal and an assist. Jake Oettinger finished the game with 33 saves matching Adin Hill. 

Game 3 will be on Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Knights are trying to leave Las Vegas with a 2-0 lead. 

Kyle Dubas will not return as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ general manager next season. Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan announced that he and Dubas decided to part ways. A storm is coming. The beginning of new changes and direction is happening in Toronto. How will this decision affect Auston Matthews’s decision to stay in Toronto? Who’s going to replace Kyle Dubas? Which member of the Core Four will be gone? 

Dubas was named the GM back in 2018. He was 201-109-42 as the GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Jamal Murray is an Animal in the Playoffs

By Miguel Mike Medina

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was an animal in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. He scored 23 of his 37 points in that quarter, plus making four of his five three-pointers. Murray also added ten rebounds, five assists, and four steals to lead the Nuggets to a 108-103 victory as they take a commanding 2-0 series lead. 

Nikola Jokic had another triple-double with 23 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals. It didn’t matter what bodies the Lakers three at Jokic and Murray; it didn’t faze them. They kept making tough shots and made it look simple. Jokic and Murray are one of the best duos in the NBA today and also one of the best when it comes to playoff time. Those two guys are FEARLESS and CONFIDENT. Nuggets role players stepped up to the plate and did what they were supposed to do. Michael Porter Jr had an impressive game. He scored 16 points and made four of his seven three. Porter Jr made some critical shots in the fourth quarter. Bruce Brown provided great energy and Production off the bench for the Nuggets with 12 points and five rebounds. 

Lebron James and Austin Reaves each had 22 points for the Lakers. Lebron used to be a freak of nature during the playoffs and had incredible energy and athleticism. In this game, he struggled a lot. He committed turnovers and missed an easy layup. The reality is that he’s 38 years old. Father Time is undefeated, and it can creep up on him anytime. Lebron went cold down downtown. He has missed 19 straight three in the fourth quarter.

In addition, Lebron has been dealing with ankle problems that started before the playoffs. In last night’s game, James stepped on the foot of Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, perhaps tweaking the injured foot that caused him to miss weeks during the regular season. However, James will not miss games for the remainder of the series. He’s going to gut it out, and he will not allow a sweep on his watch. 

Another Davis had 18 points in Game 2. AD is a streaky player. He can give you 40 in one game and give you 20 or 15 points the next game. The Lakers will need more from him and the other guys, such as D’Angelo Russell and Dennis Schröder, for Games 3 and 4. Russell and Schroder are due for a good performance. 

Game 3 will be on Saturday as the series shifts to Los Angeles. The Nuggets are trying to take a 3-0 commanding series lead, while the Lakers are trying to get back into the series. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor Joins ‘Venom 3’

By Miguel Mike Medina

Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor will be joining the cast of Venom 3, starring Academy Award nominee Tom Hardy. It’s an exciting role for Chiwetel. He is one of the best actors of his generation and quite likable when you see him on screen. British actors are very talented, and most come from a theatre background. 

Tom Hardy and Kelly Marcel will be the producers for this movie, and Marcel will also be writing the screenplay from a story she and Hardy wrote. Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker also are producing. 

Chiwetel should’ve had more momentum after his performance in 12 Years A Slave. It’s crazy to think it’s been ten years since he delivered that performance. If it wasn’t for Matthew McConaughey’s performance in Dallas Buyers Club, Chiwetel could’ve won Best Actor for his role as Solomon Northup. There was heavy competition that year for Best Actor because you had Matthew, Chiwetel, and Leonardo DiCaprio with outstanding performances. 

Elajor has been part of other films after 12 Years A Slave, such as Ridley Scott’s The Martian and Doctor Strange 1 and 2. We shall see who he will be portraying in this new Venom movie. He is no stranger when it comes to Comic Book projects. 

Saturday Hockey News with Miguel

By Miguel Mike Medina

Vegas Golden Knights won Game 4 at home, 4-3. The Oilers had a solid first period. Conor McDavid put the Oilers on the board to start the game. He had two goals in this game. Vegas Golden Knights answer back to tie the game. Zach Hyman scored a power-play goal to put the Oilers back on top in the first 2-1. But then I’m the second period, and it got things murky for the Oilers. The Golden Knights scored three goals. They scored three goals in 1:29 was the fastest in the playoffs for the Golden Knights history. 

Jack Eichel was the key player in the game. He had three points (2 goals, one assist). Adin Hill made 32 saves for the Golden Knights. They lead the series 3-2. The Oilers are one loss away from elimination. 

Can the Oilers push this series to a Game 7? It’s possible, especially since Game 6 will be in Edmonton. This series is destined to go to a Game 7. We have two outstanding teams that are playing physical hockey and have depth on their roster. 

Toronto Maple Leafs ended their season in a heartbreak fashion. We hope their season did not have to end on their home floor, but it did. When William Nylander tied the game in the third period, it seemed as if momentum shifted towards Toronto. We thought they might have a chance to extend the series to Game 6. Nick Cousins ended those plans for Toronto. He scored the overtime goal for the Florida Panthers to send them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1996. The Panthers won 3-2, and their opponent will be the Carolina Hurricanes. Is this the end for the Toronto Maple Leafs Core Four? 

Happy Birthday, Emilio Estevez!

By Miguel Mike Medina

Actor, writer, and filmmaker Emilio Estevez turns 61 today. Isn’t it hard to believe that Coach Bombay is in his 60s now? Emilio comes from a family filled with artists, and it starts with his parents, especially his father, Martin Sheen. Emilio and Martin look alike, and they’ve always been together. The Estevez-Sheen family business is nothing but success and loyalty. Emilio is the brother of Charlie Sheen. 

Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez recently went to “The Jennifer Hudson Show” Jennifer asked Emilio if it’s true that Laurence Fishburne saved his life when he was 14 years old and Emilio said it’s true. Emilio and Laurence were 14 while working on the movie, Apocalypse Now in the Philippines. Laurence saved him from drowning in quicksand. They bonded and connected ever since that incident. When Martin Sheen found out about it, he called Laurence to thank him. If it weren’t for Laurence Fishburne, we would’ve not recognize Emilio Estevez, that we know today, and the many classic movies he brought into our homes. 

Emilio Estevez was part of the “Brat Pack” in the 80s, which featured stars Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, Molly Ringwald, and many more. All of them were part of teen-oriented coming-of-age films in the 1980s, such as The Breakfast Club and St Elmo’s Fire. Emilio is one of those actors who give you the impression that he’s a calm, cool, collected guy. He’s one of those actors who you want to tune in and easy to like when you watch him on screen. 

The Breakfast Club is one of my favorite films from Emilio Estevez. He plays the role of a wrestler and takes no crap from anyone. The Breakfast Club is arguably the most outstanding high school ever. It’s cool to see the group reunite for significant anniversaries, but Emilio never attends them. It makes me wonder why he never participates in anything that involves The Breakfast Club. It’s an iconic movie that defined and influenced future high school movies, and we can’t forget about the music score. 

The Mighty Ducks trilogy films bring nothing but incredible memories. The first two films of the series are the best. Which one do you think it’s better? The first one or the second one? I would say that the second one is the best because I like the setting in which Team USA goes to Los Angeles to compete in the Olympics. You also saw Coach Bombay act like a celebrity and a diva more than a coach. Part One of the Mighty Ducks film series brings more attention to me because I like that you see the early beginnings of how this team was put together. Coach Bombay was a successful lawyer but a mess on the inside. He was betting drunk and even got arrested. But when he became a coach, he changed his life around, and with the help of his mentor (Hans), he made his team into title contenders. 

There are other films that Emilio Estevez was part of that you can check out on streaming service platforms:

– Young Guns (Amazon Prime)

– The Public (Peacock) (Directed, Written, and Starring Emilio Estevez)

– Judgment Night (Free on YouTube) 

Happy birthday to Emilio Estevez! He will always be Coach Bombay to me. 

Can Denver Become the City of Champions?

By Miguel Mike Medina

Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season over the Tampa Bay Lightning, putting an end to their dynasty. The Avalanche is a potential dynasty in the making, surrounded by stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Denver Nuggets finished as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference this season and are one win away from going to the Western Conference Finals. Can Denver become the next “City of Champions?” 

The Avalanche played a hard-fought seven-game series against the Seattle Kraken, who made their first postseason in franchise history. Although they lost in the first round in seven games, I still believe this team will be back to compete for years to come for a Stanley Cup championship. The Avalanche team suffered injuries and lost a few key pieces from last season’s championship team. However, they still have depth, youth, and speed. Great teams can’t win every single year. Colorado Avalanche is still a great time. Makar is one of the league’s best defensemen, and he’s only getting better. Mikko Rantanen had an outstanding postseason. He scored seven goals in the series against the Seattle Kraken. Don’t count out on the Avalanche. Joe Sakic and the rest of the Avalanche organization have built this team into a title contender. 

Denver Nuggets are title contenders when all of their players are healthy. The Nuggets have been a good team for a few years by now. If you saw what they did in the bubble in 2020, then you are paying attention. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr will be together until 2026. They are young, confident, and trust one another. They have excellent ball movement, starting with Jokic, who is without a doubt the best passing big man in the league. He’s also a 2-time league MVP. Jamal Murray is a fearless point guard and reminds me of Gilbert Arenas. Murray can drive to the basketball, make fadeaway jump shots, and is a good midrange shooter. He can torture you in many scary ways. Michael Porter Jr is a stud and should be respected. He should be the third-best player on this team when he makes his shots effectively. I’m rooting for this man to succeed. Aaron Gordon can be a streaky player, but he is unique once he gets going. 

The Nuggets could face a potential 2020 Western Conference Finals rematch with the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Nuggets can beat Lebron, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers, then there’s a legit chance they can go and win it all. The most significant factor for the Nuggets will come down to two critical things: Defense and Bench Scoring. When the Nuggets play defense and can get some points from their bench, no one will beat them, but they have to do this every night. 

Marlins’ Bats Triumps Arizona

By Miguel Mike Medina

Miami Marlins’ offense sets the tone on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marlins won the game by the final score of 6-2. The Marlins improved to 18-19 in the year. They’re one game under .500 and currently in second place in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves. Marlins trail the Braves by 7 1/2 games. 

Marlins’ best hitter in the lineup Luis Arraez got another hit. He currently has a 12-game hitting streak going on. Since Jorge Soler won the World Series MVP for the Atlanta Braves in 2021, he’s been a critical difference-maker to whatever team he plays for. The dividends are paying off so far during his time with the Miami Marlins. He’s getting his money’s worth. Jorge Soler had a tremendous offensive performance against Arizona. Soler hit two home runs in this game. The first home run, he hit a 468-foot shot to left field. He had five RBIs in this game and has been doing some damage. 

Through 35 games this season, Soler has nine homers. He’s a game-changer. He can win a game by himself and bring you a lot of RBIs.

Jazz Chisholm Jr had a good night against the Diamondbacks. He got on base three times. He got a hit and scored three runs, plus picking up two stolen bases. Jazz needs to stay more discipline at the plate. It doesn’t always go right for him because, at times, he swings at everything and tries to do too much. But I like his approach on Tuesday, and he should remain focused and continue to hit line drives. 

What can we say about Jesus Sanchez? He’s been on a mission. The left fielder had two doubles in this game. He had 14 doubles last season through 98 games. In the previous 15 games, he’s hitting .359 with 14 hits, 7 RBIs, and two homers. He also has eight doubles in the year so far. Sanchez is a unique talent, and if he can continue to produce this well, then the Marlins can go far as a team this year. 

Marlins will play at 3:40 pm at Chase Field. Edward Cabrera will take the mound for the Marlins. Merrill Kelly will pitch for the Diamondbacks. 

Miami’s Rebounding and Depth Too Much for the Knicks

By Miguel Mike Medina

The Miami Heat could’ve let this game slip away. Miami missed 12 of its first 15 shots in the fourth quarter. However, they found the tenacity to come out with a win over the New York Knicks. They showed their poise, leadership, resilience, and confidence in Game 4. Miami won 109-101 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. 

Jimmy Butler is playing through the ankle injury. Butler has led Miami in scoring in every game throughout this postseason. Butler led Miami with 27 points, ten assists, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. His ten assists in this game are huge, and it had to do with the Knicks continuing to double-team him. The more the Knicks tried to trap Butler, the easier it made for him to find his teammates. Jimmy Butler trusts his teammates. Butler took just 17 shots in this game. Butler looked more like Butler from the regular season than postseason Jimmy Butler in this game. He didn’t have to go into full Michael Jordan 2.0 mode by scoring 40-50 points to help his team win in Game 4. He had help from his teammates. 

Bam Adebayo had a sensational game. He finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds. The Knicks, the third-best rebounding team in the league, got outrebounded 44-35 in Game 4. Kyle Lowry was on fire. He led the second unit with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes. He shot 4-of-6 from the field and hit 2 of his four 3-point attempts. Lowry is a winner. Whether starting or coming from the bench, he’s ready to play and gives all his efforts. This team and the organization love him. Lowry and Miami Heat are the perfect match. He won a championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. He knows what it takes to win, and Miami Heat culture is about winning, especially right now. 

Kevin Love has an arm of a quarterback. He’s looking like Dan Marino on the court, making outstanding passes in this series, such as Games 1 and 4. Miami’s bench has been tremendous in this series. They have outscored the Knicks bench 116 to 62. Rebounding, defense, making free throws, and bench points can help you with games. Miami is bringing all those tools in this series, and they’re making the Knicks scratch their heads. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is a great coach. He knows how to get his team ready to play every single night. 

The series shifts back to New York for Game 5. The Knicks will try to stay away from elimination. Miami is looking to become the second No. 8 seed to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals since the 1999 New York Knicks.